Are You Emotionally Ready to Lose Weight?

Are You Emotionally Ready to Lose Weight?

Losing weight is more than just cutting calories and hitting the gym. Getting in the right place mentally can be just as important in helping you accomplish your weight loss goals. Here are eight questions to ask yourself before you get started.
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Published on January 2, 2024
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You’ve made the decision to lose weight. Whether it’s your first or fifth attempt, congratulations on taking this first step. Shedding extra pounds — even a small amount such as 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight — can lead to health improvements. Among them: healthier blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and potentially a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, according to one study.

You may have taken steps to prepare yourself, such as by selecting an eating plan to follow or joining a new gym. But before you embark on your weight loss journey, there’s another important step to take: making sure you’re emotionally ready.

Below are eight questions that can help assess your emotional readiness to lose weight, which were crafted with Allison Young, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist, who is a member of Everyday Health’s Health Expert Network and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Answer them to see whether you’re ready to pursue your weight loss goals or whether you may want to recruit some help from a counselor or dietitian before starting your journey.

Question 1

How much weight do you want to lose?

  • A. 1 to 2 pounds a week
  • B. About 10 pounds a month
  • C. As much as I possibly can, as fast I can
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